Story by Ethan
On August 1st, 2024, charges against Joel Kelly, 60, were announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Joel Kelly was charged with first-degree Attempted Murder, second-degree Attempted Murder, first-degree Attempted Assault, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “This defendant allegedly fired at police officers and miraculously no one was struck. Attempts on the lives of police officers, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect New Yorkers, have no place in our city. We will remain steadfast in our efforts to take illegal firearms, especially ghost guns, out of our communities.”
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 12:07 a.m. on July 27th, 2024, Joel Kelly was visiting his sister at her apartment on Beach 40th Street in the Beach 41st Street Houses. Shortly after Joel Kelly arrived, his sister told him to leave at around 12:23 a.m.. Joel Kelly was allegedly seen with a pistol outside of the apartment building, before firing two shots. A NYPD sergeant and officer responded to reports of shots being fired in the area. The responding officers found Joel Kelly walking on Beach 51st street. When the officers were going to confront Joel Kelly, he turned around and fired directly at the responding officers with his pistol. Neither officer was hit. While fleeing, Joel Kelly threw the pistol to the ground, which dislodged the magazine. After the chase, a 9mm pistol, which was also a ghost-gun, was recovered from the scene, alongside two 9mm spent shell casings. One live round and three bullet fragments were also recovered from the hallway outside Joel Kelly’s sister’s apartment.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Joel Kelly are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
